The Miami Heat have signed Dru Smith to a 3-year, $7.9 million contract. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported the addition via X.
“The Miami Heat and Dru Smith have agreed to a 3-year, $7.9 million deal, league sources told @hoopshype,” Scotto wrote. “Smith averaged 6.2 points on 51% shooting and 53% from 3-point range with 1.5 steals in 14 games last season. Agents Aaron Reilly and Reggie Berry finalized the deal.”
Smith, 27, spent last season with the Heat, and clearly did enough to earn himself a larger role within the rotation for the upcoming season. He will provide a scoring spark off the bench. Erik Spoelstra will likely be hoping that Smith is the latest diamond in the rough to come via the Heat’s talent development system.
Furthermore, Smith may find himself with a bigger-than-expected role as Terry Rozier continues to deal with off-court issues. The veteran guard has also struggled to make an impact for the Heat and is unlikely to feature in the rotation next season. Smith will undoubtedly want to capitalize on that opportunity.
Heat’s Haywood Highsmith Decision Pays Dividends
On Friday, August 15, the Heat traded Haywood Highsmith and a 2031 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets. Miami took back a 2026 second-round draft pick as part of the deal.
“The Miami Heat have traded Haywood Highsmith and a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for a protected 2026 second-round pick, sources tell ESPN,” Shams Charania reported. “Brooklyn has remained active in trade conversations as the league’s only team with remaining significant cap space, and takes Highsmith in with an unprotected second-rounder. Nets have also acquired two 1sts this offseason to add to the most 1st and 2nd round picks in the league. Heat shed Highsmith’s salary to lessen their salary bill. Nets send Miami a 2026 second-rounder that is protected 31-55.”
The decision to trade Highsmith is what created the cap space for Miami to sign Smith without risking becoming a luxury-tax paying team. Given Miami’s struggles at the guard position in recent years, adding Smith on a multi-year deal makes sense.
The hope will be that he can develop into a reliable backup option who can spell minutes in the starting rotation when needed.
Highsmith Due to Miss 8-10 Weeks
On August 8, the Heat reported that Highsmith was set to miss 8 to 10 weeks due to his recent surgery. That would likely be before he began rehabbing his injury and working himself back to full fitness.
Losing Highsmith will be a tough blow for the Heat’s wing depth. However, the need to add another body at the guard positions likely outweighed what Highsmith would bring to the rotation as a bench forward.
Smith has shown some potential and upside in recent years and could now finally be in line to have a legitimate role within Spoelstra’s rotation. And, with such a low annual salary, Miami could easily redirect him in a trade if things don’t go according to plan. All-in-all, the Heat have enjoyed a strong piece of business, as they continue an impressive summer of recruitment and preparations.
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